The Conscious Salon - Photo Galleries

Sold On Sanitation

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:58:16 PST

Stock up on these hard surface and implement cleaners, then be sure to talk up your sanitation and disinfection practices to your clientele. If you strictly follow the instructions on the product labels, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your clients safe — and sold on your salon.

In The Clean: The Great Salon Bug Battle

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 4:16:37 PST

Salon sanitation has never been more important. With the recent swine flu scare and the dreaded MRSA lurking on surfaces all over, cleanliness and proper sanitation are essential to keep clients safe and your salon out of the news. To help combat germs in the salon, knowledge, a commitment to your clients, and an assortment of professional sanitation methods can keep you in the clean. BY TIM CROWLEY

We’ve all heard the scare tactics before: “Woman Dies from Routine Pedicure: Story at 11.” A woman contracts a horrific flesh-eating bacteria from a routine nail salon visit and she’s left with permanent scarring and a lawsuit against the salon where she got it — or worse. With newer and more dangerous bugs popping up year after year, the odds of a client contracting a deadly pathogen and ultimately dying from it have never been higher.

Luckily, salon industry manufacturers are staying on top of the situation and have come out with innovative products that make salon sanitation easier and more effective than ever so services remain safe for clients (and technicians). Alan Murphy, president of King Research and BlueCo Brands, which manufacture the Barbicide line of sanitation products, is hoping to “educate, embrace, and excite” salon owners about sanitation.

“We try to educate salon owners and technicians so they know proper details about disinfection,” says Murphy, “and then get them to embrace it by following proper sanitation procedures in full, and finally excite them so they can proudly show their commitment to sanitation to their own clientele.”

Murphy believes owners and technicians need to start seeing sanitation as a fundamental human decency as opposed to a government mandated obligation and says salons can essentially eliminate contamination if they follow proper sanitation procedures. “We want to educate owners and techs as to what is out there, but not scare them into thinking that contamination is inevitable. There are products that can kill the bugs, just follow the procedures and the rules, and you won’t have to worry.”

The Bugs

So just what kind of stuff is lurking in nail salons? Registered Nurse (RN) and head of Woodward Laboratories’ quality control and hand hygiene program, Faye Shinder talks about what techs should be aware of. “Some of the most common germs in a nail salon are not so different than anywhere else,” she says. “Since all salons have restrooms, insufficient hand washing can lead to the spread of E. Coli, which is a normal occupant of our digestive system, but when it gets into the body from an outside source it can make people really sick.”

Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is another bug Shinder warns about. “MRSA is also known as the flesh-eating bacteria, and it’s received a lot of attention lately because of the severity of its infections.”

MRSA is a strain of bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics and can cause massive scarring and even lead to death if the infection spreads to vital organs.

Another bug that has received a lot of attention lately is the H1N1/09 virus, also known as the swine flu. The virus is spread like the common flu, through coughing, sneezing, and close body contact, and has similar flu-like symptoms that can intensify after a week and lead to death if the body does not rid the virus on its own.

While not quite as life-threatening, athlete’s foot is also very contagious and can wreak havoc on a salon’s reputation if it encounters a string of consecutive infections.

The Solution

So what do we do against these bugs? Manufacturers are in constant pursuit to ensure their products kill the bad bugs and keep clients and technicians safe. Erick Westcott, CEO of Gelousy Gel Nail Systems, which manufacturers Viraguard, explains that manufacturers must be vigilant in order to keep their products registered with the U.S. government and up-to-date on the latest killer bugs. “Hard surface disinfectants are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and any disinfectant that comes in contact with the skin is considered a drug and is registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” Westcott says.

For both the EPA and FDA, manufacturers have to present paperwork showing testing and efficacy results before they are approved for use in the United States. And for hard disinfectants meeting EPA approval, they have to show testing results for each and every bug they claim to kill. So if a disinfectant says it kills HIV, hepatitis B and C, and mycobacterium tuberculosis, that means it has been tested for each one specifically.

“This is why when a new super-bug, like the swine flu, comes out it takes some time before manufacturers can say their product effectively kills it,” Westcott says.

But whichever disinfectant you end up using, the most important thing to remember is to pay attention to the required contact time. Shinder says this is one of the most common mistakes made in salon sanitation. “A lot of people do not leave the product on long enough to be able to do the job,” says Shinder. “Most manufacturers recommend leaving a cleaned surface saturated with a disinfectant for at least 10 minutes.”

Westcott echoes this saying it happens frequently with pedicure tubs, where technicians will run the tub with a disinfectant in it, but not for the full 10 minutes required.

Luckily there are a number of different disinfection systems out there, some specific to hand and foot sanitizing, while others are for implements, counters, and tubs. Here’s a sampling of what’s being offered today, so you can build your arsenal in the battle against bugs.

Breast Cancer Awareness Nail Designs 2009: Symbols of Strength and Hope

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 3:21:47 PST

Let these nail art tips serve as inspiration for designs you might offer clients in the salon this October.

The Power of Pink

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 2:49:48 PST

Breast cancer has touched nearly all of our lives. This October, you can raise awareness while you raise funds to battle this powerful disease. Check out these special promotions offered by your nail manufacturers to aid in the fight.

10 Money Wasters (and how to stop the waste)

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 3:13:16 PST

In tough times, little things count, and small efforts to save a bit of money here and there can add up over time. Every day there are opportunities to save, and it’s really easy to do once you identify where the waste is happening. From buying bulk sizes to shopping for furniture at a swap meet, these little things can make a difference in your budget.

Bringing the Outdoors In

Tue, 12 May 2009 11:04:06 PST

Stop and smell the roses with these nine ways to get Mother Nature to be a regular at your salon.

To look at other salon design galleries, visit:

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Acquaint Yourself with Essential Oils

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 8:37:46 PST

What is an Essential Oil?

A natural, volatile, aromatic substance that can be extracted (mainly by distillation or expression) from a plant. Among other uses, the scents are employed in aromatherapy and perfume making.

Use this photo gallery to learn about some of the most popular essential oils. A description of the oils' properties and a category for use are included.

Click here to read The Essence of Essesntial Oils for a more in-depth look at essential oils and how to use them for maximum benefit.

In with the Om: Eastern Influences on Wesern Salon Services

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 5:00:16 PST

As little as 10 years ago, Taoism, feng shui, and ayurveda never would have played in Peoria, so to speak. But whether it's a cultural backlash against our high-tech, fast-paced society or a greater awareness of self and others, Westerners are cultivating an appreciation for the ancient Eastern philosophies and practices. Here are some Eastern twists on a few salon services.

Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Art

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 2:22:19 PST

Get inspired by these 11 great takes on the Pink Ribbon.

Think Pink With These Breast Cancer Awareness Products

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 3:59:20 PST

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we can all make a difference with these special products from professional salon manufacturers. Click into our gallery to see how you can help raise awareness and raise funds.